Analysis: Obama's dangerous political gambit (By JENNIFER LOVEN, Washington Post) That outsider, reformer image, while attractive particularly to all-important independent voters, is difficult for any politician to maintain once the messy obligations and barriers of governing take over.

California's independent streak--'Decline to State' voters here don't quite fit the national mold, but they do call most of the shots. (By George Skelton, Capitol Journal, LA Times)

OBAMA AND INDEPENDENTS

Obama Continues Policy Outreach to Republicans (By CARL HULSE and JEFF ZELENY, NY Times) White House officials said the new approach could help repair Mr. Obama’s standing among independent voters, who catapulted him into the White House but have distanced themselves partly because of the messy legislative debate over health care.

Let's take a fresh look at black history (By Eugene Kane, Journal Sentinel) Is Barack Obama the first black person to run for president? No, in the modern era, black politicians Shirley Chisholm, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Alan Keyes and Lenora Fulani have all run for U.S. president.

Fractures emerge as Tea Party convenes (By Kristi Keck, CNN) The anger over alleged fiscal irresponsibility in Washington was shared by a wider spectrum of voters, including independents, said John Avlon, author of "Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe is Hijacking America."